Cooking was considered as a fun and a pleasurable pastime in the days gone by. In fact, this was the most important activity of the women or the housewives in a typical Indian family set up. But today, ladies have stepped outside and have been able to create their own identities in the professional field. The involvement of both the male and the female partners in professional ventures have made cooking a lost art! And this has given people an opportunity to come out with excuses for not having healthy foods. Whether you are a busy bee, a fussy eater, a junk food junkie or a kitchen phobe, here are some tips which can allow you to eat healthily:
If You are a Busy Bee
- Cook foods in bigger quantities every weekend, store them in the refrigerator and take them during the busy week days.
- Stick to your mealtimes. Skipping meals is not a good idea even if you are too busy in your project. Set an alarm to remind you about your mealtime.
- Don't engage yourself in anything else while you eat. Eating mindlessly will stand in the way of your food enjoyment. It may also cause you to overeat while pulling you towards unhealthy food choices.
- Put some fresh and dried fruits in an easily noticeable place. Keeping handy options like bananas, apples and grapes in front of you will remind you about your promises to eat healthy foods.
- Placing orders at restaurants does not mean opting for the super-sized options. And always remember that baked and broiled dishes are far more better than the fried ones.
- Avoid fatty condiments although they may add a little more "excitement" to your food.
- In case you feel hungry at odd times, keep healthy snacks handy. And the list will include fruits (fresh and dried), nuts, seeds, carrot sticks and sandwiches.
If You are a Fussy Eater
If you are a fussy eater, then you may really get bothered about what you are taking in. Some particular food textures, preparations, smells and tastes may create that "fussiness" in you. You may just choose to opt for your favorite foods while rejecting many healthy options. This is how you can add some healthy choices to your fussy eating habit:
- Prepare a list of foods which you can think of trying out. And don't forget to include the fruits, vegetables and meats which can really go down your mouth into your stomach.
- If you dislike a particular food preparation, then go for a different presentation or you may consider having it raw as well.
- Eating raw broccoli may bring loads of boredom to you, but you should know that you can cook some vegetables into soup. Bagels can be enjoyed with low-fat cheese and mashed pineapple or grated carrots.
- Try to come out with a new recipe every week. If you don't feel like eating brown rice, then mix some portions of the whole grain with white rice. Gradually your taste buds will get accustomed to the taste of brown rice and then you can think about a complete switchover!
If You are a Junk Food Junkie
If you want to control your junk food cravings, then you need to go prior plannings.
- If you really love crunching, then consider munching on healthier options like whole grain crackers, red peppers, pop corns and rice cakes. And forget the usual yet highly provocative option- chips.
- There is little harm in being a sweet tooth provided you have sugar-free pudding, fruit bars and fresh as well as dried fruits. A baked apple is not a bad choice either.
- If you are a chocolate lover, then consider keeping low-calorie and small-sized options.
If You are a Kitchen Phobe
Not knowing cooking may not give you much trouble if you follow these few tips:
- You can choose to give your taste buds some amount of delight by offering them roasted chicken breasts and sweet potatoes sliced up in neat pieces. And roasting is definitely not a big deal. You can also prepare a heart meal by sautéing baby spinach with a few garlic cloves and olive oil.
- Today, many grocery outlets are offering readily available cut and sliced salads and fruits just for kitchen phobes like you. And low-calorie frozen foods are great time-savers.
- If you are wanting to have a pizza, then avoid the "Cheese Burst" category. And don't forget to chew some salads at the same time.
- You may not be able to stay away from Chinese foods for many days at a stretch. But you can still indulge in a healthy "eating out" by asking the restaurant staff to use oil in low quantities. Go for the vegetable- based dishes and control the consumption of rice, noodles and fried foods. You should note that the broth-based soups are the best options if you are trying to place an order for the same. And dress your pasta with tomato sauce rather than the calorie-loaded "creamy yummy".
Eating food will not take much of your time if you know how to act smartly. The foods designated as "unhealthy" can be eaten healthily with a bit of compromises. Train your taste-buds and carry on with your "popular" status or designation!
